Gorges proves to be testament to foresight

Published: Wednesday, October 31, 2012 at 4:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Tuesday, October 30, 2012 at 6:59 p.m.

Western North Carolinaís abundance of natural treasures and its tourism economy will benefit in perpetuity, thanks to the foresight of conservation-minded residents and leaders who worked together to make Gorges State Park a reality.

In 1999, North Carolina purchased 10,000 acres along the north shore of Lake Jocassee in Transylvania County from Duke Energy for $8.5 million, well below its then-estimated value of $21 million. About 7,500 acres were christened Gorges State Park. The 2,900-acre Toxaway Gamelands comprise the rest of the state-protected acreage in North Carolina, although another 33,000 acres of protected lands lie across the state line in South Carolina.

Itís no wonder conservationists in both states considered it a priority to preserve this temperate rain forest, with its steep, carved river gorges and myriad ecosystems. They accurately described statesí efforts to buy the tract as the most significant conservation purchase in the Southern Appalachians since the creation of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

These lands where the Horsepasture, Thompson and Whitewater rivers plunge from the mountains to the Piedmont are spectacular and sprawling. Yet, in the 11 years since Gorges State Park opened, it has drawn far fewer visitors than more well-known attractions such as Pisgah National Forest and DuPont State Forest. Just over 92,000 people visited Gorges last year, compared to more than 250,000 visitors expected this year at DuPont.

One reason is limited access. Another was lack of developed facilities, but thatís changing, thanks to a new state-of-the-art visitor center that opened Oct. 12. Located inside the park entrance off N.C. Highway 281, itís an environmental showcase similar in design to the Blue Ridge Parkway Visitor Center in Asheville. Built of natural stone and timber, it features an exhibit hall with hands-on exhibits for children, a man-made waterfall, teaching auditorium, classroom and administrative offices. Exhibits educate visitors about the areaís rich natural and cultural history. The center includes both active and passive solar energy systems and a geothermal energy system, rainwater collection and water-saving fixtures and natural landscaping. Hendersonvilleís Cooper Construction Co. was the general contractor for this beautiful facility.

At an elevation of 3,372 feet, the visitor center looks out over the Blue Ridge Escarpment where the land drops abruptly almost 2,300 feet to Lake Jocassee. At least 46 species of rare plants and animals are protected within the park.

North Carolinaís move to create the state park was controversial at the time. Hunters who had used the land for generations were unhappy that hunting would be prohibited in a state park, and the logging industry complained that a park would put woodlands off-limits to timber harvesting. But conservationists such as Bill Thomas, a Cedar Mountain retiree and longtime advocate for protecting the area, and leaders such as former N.C. Gov. Jim Hunt saw Gorges as a crucial link in the string of protected lands across the Southern Blue Ridge. Duke Energy gave the state time to raise the millions to buy the tract at a bargain price.

These and many others deserve credit for their foresight in preserving this awesome legacy for present and future generations.

<p>Western North Carolina’s abundance of natural treasures and its tourism economy will benefit in perpetuity, thanks to the foresight of conservation-minded residents and leaders who worked together to make Gorges State Park a reality.</p><p>In 1999, North Carolina purchased 10,000 acres along the north shore of Lake Jocassee in Transylvania County from Duke Energy for $8.5 million, well below its then-estimated value of $21 million. About 7,500 acres were christened Gorges State Park. The 2,900-acre Toxaway Gamelands comprise the rest of the state-protected acreage in North Carolina, although another 33,000 acres of protected lands lie across the state line in South Carolina.</p><p>It’s no wonder conservationists in both states considered it a priority to preserve this temperate rain forest, with its steep, carved river gorges and myriad ecosystems. They accurately described states’ efforts to buy the tract as the most significant conservation purchase in the Southern Appalachians since the creation of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.</p><p>These lands where the Horsepasture, Thompson and Whitewater rivers plunge from the mountains to the Piedmont are spectacular and sprawling. Yet, in the 11 years since Gorges State Park opened, it has drawn far fewer visitors than more well-known attractions such as Pisgah National Forest and DuPont State Forest. Just over 92,000 people visited Gorges last year, compared to more than 250,000 visitors expected this year at DuPont.</p><p>One reason is limited access. Another was lack of developed facilities, but that’s changing, thanks to a new state-of-the-art visitor center that opened Oct. 12. Located inside the park entrance off N.C. Highway 281, it’s an environmental showcase similar in design to the Blue Ridge Parkway Visitor Center in Asheville. Built of natural stone and timber, it features an exhibit hall with hands-on exhibits for children, a man-made waterfall, teaching auditorium, classroom and administrative offices. Exhibits educate visitors about the area’s rich natural and cultural history. The center includes both active and passive solar energy systems and a geothermal energy system, rainwater collection and water-saving fixtures and natural landscaping. Hendersonville’s Cooper Construction Co. was the general contractor for this beautiful facility.</p><p>At an elevation of 3,372 feet, the visitor center looks out over the Blue Ridge Escarpment where the land drops abruptly almost 2,300 feet to Lake Jocassee. At least 46 species of rare plants and animals are protected within the park.</p><p>North Carolina’s move to create the state park was controversial at the time. Hunters who had used the land for generations were unhappy that hunting would be prohibited in a state park, and the logging industry complained that a park would put woodlands off-limits to timber harvesting. But conservationists such as Bill Thomas, a Cedar Mountain retiree and longtime advocate for protecting the area, and leaders such as former N.C. Gov. Jim Hunt saw Gorges as a crucial link in the string of protected lands across the Southern Blue Ridge. Duke Energy gave the state time to raise the millions to buy the tract at a bargain price.</p><p>These and many others deserve credit for their foresight in preserving this awesome legacy for present and future generations.</p>